The Celtics are about to face a familiar ghost. Mitchell Robinson posted new videos of his shooting stroke this week, and the hype is already building. But anyone who watched the Knicks for the last eight years knows this movie ends in disappointment. The clips show him hitting shots from everywhere, but the game results tell a different story. Last season he shot a terrible 40.8 percent from the line, while Robinson finished his Knicks career with a 50.8 percent free throw average.
The Fantasy vs. The Facts
It is easy to get excited about a seven-footer who can stretch the floor. Robinson told reporters he practiced his foul shooting “a lot” this summer. He even flashed some dribble moves in the recent social media clips. Yet, these same rumors happened every single offseason in New York. The excitement never turned into real improvement on the court. The Celtics will likely learn the hard way that these reels are just a fantasy. The numbers prove he has not fixed his biggest weakness yet.
Knicks Heartbreak Over the Move
While the Celtics dream of a new offensive weapon, the Knicks are still hurting from the loss. The players were caught off guard when the Celtics, their rivals, signed Robinson to a $47.4 million, three-year contract. Karl-Anthony Towns admitted it “hurt” to hear the news that he was leaving for the Celtics, while Jalen Brunson acknowledged that it’s “definitely tough.” Josh Hart was even more blunt, saying, “I was heartbroken with that one. That’s one of my guys.” The team tried to fix the hole by signing Andre Drummond to a low-cost, one-year deal.
A New Hope or Same Old Story?
Brunson thinks Drummond can fill the void. He stated that for the 2026-27 season, this veteran big man must act as “a big key to this team”, according to Daily Knicks. But replacing Robinson’s energy and defensive presence is a tall order. The Knicks were shocked because they thought something would get done to keep him. Hart noted that the second apron rules made it impossible to match Boston’s offer. Now the Knicks lose the player, but the Celtics might face the same old shooting struggles. The clips look great, but the history suggests the results will not follow.
